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Gerrit Cole gave up five runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings in a win over the Cardinals on Saturday.

Cole was fortunate that opposing starter Lance Lynn was even worse, or else he might have lost his fourth straight decision. Instead, he improved to 12-11 through 32 starts. It's a disconcerting end to the season for the 27-year-old, though, as he's given up 14 runs in his last three starts combined to watch his ERA climb to 4.23 overall. He'll look to head into the offseason on a high note when he takes on the Nationals on Friday. Sep 24 - 12:10 AM

Gerrit Cole struggled against Cincinnati on Sunday, allowed four runs on five hits in a loss to the Reds.

Somewhat surprisingly, it was Cole and not Cincinnati starter Robert Stephenson who struggled with command. He walked four, and gave up two homers. His only saving grace was that he did struck out six in his five innings of work. His next start will come against St. Louis on Saturday. Sep 17 - 5:30 PM

Gerrit Cole tied a season high with 10 strikeouts but allowed five runs over six frames Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Cole’s other 10-strikeout game was also against the Brewers back on July 19. It was some two-out damage in the third inning that did Cole in, as Domingo Santana doubled in two following an intentional walk and Eric Thames plated another tally with a single. Cole has now given up exactly five runs in three of his last five outings. He’ll get Milwaukee again in his next trip to the hill. Sep 12 - 10:59 PM

Gerrit Cole fired eight shutout innings against the Cubs, allowing only two hits, but had to settle for a no-decision in a game his team eventually lost.

He allowed just a pair of singles and issued four walks in the dominant outing. He was locked in a pitchers' duel with Jose Quintana for most of the evening. Cole's elite potential was on full display tonight -- he has the stuff to be an ace if he can develop some consistency. Tonight's effort was a nice rebound from getting touched up for five runs in six innings by the Reds last week. He has an 11-9 record with a 3.93 ERA in 29 starts and lines up for a very enticing two start week coming up in the fantasy playoffs. Sep 6 - 10:51 PM

Depth Charts

The Pirates have shut down Francisco Cervelli (quad) for the remainder of the regular season.

Cervelli suffered a quad injury in late August and the team doesn't want him to push things with only 12 games on the calendar. "The reality is we've run out of time," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. He'll finish the year with a .249/.342/.370 batting line with five homers and 31 RBI over 81 games. His salary jumps to $10.5 million next year.

Mercer was pulled from Saturday's game with tendinitis in his left knee, an ailment he's been dealing with for a while. He's day-to-day. Max Moroff is at shortstop Sunday. The Pirates are sitting a host of other regulars Sunday, as well, as Josh Bell, Gregory Polanco, David Freese and Adam Frazier are all on the bench.

According to Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are making plans for Jung Ho Kang to play in the Dominican Winter League.

Getting some playing time in winter ball could help ease Kang's transition into Pirates camp next spring, if he's able to secure a United States visa by then. The Department of State has so far rejected Kang's visa applications after he was arrested for his third DUI last December in Seoul, South Korea. It's all up in the air at this point. Kang hasn't played competitive baseball since last year.